Padding and Shaping

Elizabethan hairstyles are still used in todays fashion. There are different, contemporary versions of Elizabethan hairstyles that are particularly popular with catwalks and photo shoots. Below are Elizabethan styles and contemporary versions that use padding to shape the hair.

Round Hairstyles

Image from: http://nttreasurehunt.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/ntiii_nost_960230_large.jpg

Image from: http://www.polyvore.com/cgi/img-thing?.out=jpg&size=l&tid=52838673

Heart Shaped Hairstyles

Image from: http://www.elizabethancostume.net/gallery/images/lettice.jpg

Image from: http://i5.cdnds.net/12/41/or_mcqueenelizabethianjpg.jpg

In our lesson, we learnt how to use padding to shape the hair into different hairstyles. We used thin tights filled with couch roll and moulded them into shape. We had to leave a section at the front to cover the padding, and then put a little french plait in the hair so the padding can be secured to that. I decided to crimp the whole hair as this creates texture and it makes the hair easier to put into place. I then left a small section at the front as used the frizzing effect to put over the padding. Below are the stages of my work. 

Firstly, I began with crimping the hair. 

 I then got a pair of tights and filled it with tissue.

 This is the finished padding.

I then braided the hair to secure the padding to.

I used a kirby grip to secure the padding to the braid.

I then brought the hair over the padding to cover it up.

I used the frizzing technique for the fringe.

 All the hair has now been brought over.

 Side angle

From the front.

I plaited the extra hair left at the back.

Other side angle.

Back view.

I used two different sized padding on my dolls head. I wanted to see whether the smaller padding worked better or the larger one. I think the bigger one worked better as I was able to move it round the back of the head and it gave me a much better shape. I can now experiment and start to create a more symmetrical design using the larger padding. 

Hair Royal Highness at Chanel

Image from: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/news-features/
TMG9723421/Hair-Royal-Highness-at-Chanel.html

The scene was a Chanel homecoming of sorts, a show that dramatised Coco Chanel's love of tweed, tartan and cashmere, played out in the courtyard of Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. It gave it a real Elizabethan feel with ruffled necklines, doublet corsets and ballooning sleeves.

Sam McKnight added plaits up the back of the hair, serious height and jewels, including baroque headdresses, tartan thistle, camellia corsages and pheasant feathers to the models hair to create an Elizabethan feel. 

Image from: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/news-features/
TMG9723421/Hair-Royal-Highness-at-Chanel.html

Image from: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/news-features/TMG9723421
/Hair-Royal-Highness-at-Chanel.html

Image from: http://obsessivecollectors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/chanel-paris-edimbourg-backstage-photos-13-660x440.jpeg

I think that Chanel's Pre-Fall 2013 catwalk had lots of interpretations of the Elizabethan era. Sam McKnight created the hairstyles in a way that captured many aspects of the era including; red heads, pale skin, rouged cheeks, frizzy hair, beehives etc. When you look at photographs you can see that it has been influenced by the 16th century. Not many people bring royal history into their collections from that far back, but the Elizabethan era has become so iconic and recognisable in todays fashion that everybody seems to be doing it! There are so many interpretations of this era out there but there are so many new looks you can create by using the same techniques as they did in the 1500's.

Information from: http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/news-features/TMG9723421/Hair-Royal-Highness-at-Chanel.html - Article writen by Katy Young

http://www.vogue.com/fashion-week/862416/chanel-pre-fall-2013/

Historical and Contemporary Inspiration

'Women's Headdress and Hairstyles in England from AD600 to the present day'

(pages 48- 59)

Again, I found this book in the fashion an styling section along with other books from different eras. I wanted to find a book on Elizabethan hairstyles that would help me understand how they styled their hair and what kind of things they put in it. I decided to read this book as it had lots of information on the era I wanted to research.

I have learnt a lot of things by reading this book. I am now aware of the different styles they used to have such as waved or rolled hair and even frizzing and close curls. They used to style their hair in many ways and as the years went on the looks started to slightly change. I also find it fascinating that they used

accessories such as pearls, diamonds and rubies!

I am so excited to start this project now as I have a lot of research that I can look back on and start designing and creating my Elizabethan look. I am going to take on board the things that I have learnt and create a really interesting design that is recognisable from the 16th century but I also want to make it my own. I can't wait to start practising!


Beyonce - Mrs Carter Show

Image from: http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dbTY5wGTks0/maxresdefault.jpg

In 2013, Beyonce did a world tour known as the Mrs Carter Show. The Youtube video I posted, shows Beyonce's o2 priority advert promoting her tickets. The theme is royalty, she is known as "Queen B" and she looks like a Queen in the advert. We are focusing on the Elizabethan era and I think it relates. Women in the 16th/17th century used to wear corsets to bring their waists in and as you can see Beyonce is wearing one here. 

The second image I posted, shows a clip from Beyonce's backdrop video, a video that is played before she comes on stage during her performance. I can see a relation to the Elizabethan era by the pale skin and bright red lips. The hair is also a big part in the Elizabethan times and you can see here that Beyonce's hair has either been frizzed or curled and been put up using padding to create the height. She is also wearing the jewellery just like they used to in Elizabethan times. 

Curls and Frizz

Equipment:

- Pins

- Kirby grips

- Straighteners

Steps:

1)Put your pin in and figure of eight the hair through it.

2) Once all the hair has been wrapped around, get a kirby grip to clamp the end. 

3) Get the straighteners and hold it at the top of the hair, working your way down to ensure all hair has been heated.

4) Leave to cool and to set the hair.

5) Remove the hair from the pins and you're left with a curl. 

Helens Demo

My example

I really enjoyed this technique as I think it gives a real Elizabethan feel and I think it would work really well in my project. This was my first time doing this experiment and I really liked doing it - I will be experimenting a lot with this technique in order for me to create the perfect curls and frizz. 

Experimenting with Contemporary Hairstyles

In our lesson, we looked through a variety of different portraits from the Elizabethan era to inspire us for our project. We looked at what techniques they used and what accessories they added in their hair. We then looked into contemporary hairstyles inspired by the Elizabethan era for fashion shows and photo shoots. During our lesson, we experimented with our Kate Heads, trying out different hairstyles that inspired us. We could then add accessories we liked such as bows, beads and ribbons.

This is my design, I parted the hair down the middle and then french plaited one of the sides. I then weaved ribbon down the plait. It was really hard to incorporate the ribbon with the hair, as I had never worked with it in hairstyles before. I think I could have done much better and I have now picked up new techniques and I will practice outside of the lesson to produce experiments to the best of my ability.

Elizabethan Hair

Assessment Task:

The 'Redheads and Royalty' brief focuses upon collating historical research and technical observations of the hairstyles used in the Elizabethan era. You may begin by considering the hairstyles you have identified in paintings from the Elizabethan era, but also consider that the various hairstyles and hair colours used by Elizabethan women with references to their age, class and status.

Queen Elizabeth 1580

You are required to practice a variety of historically accurate Elizabethan hairstyles in class, you are also going to create a more contemporary version using clear references to a style of Elizabethan hair you are inspired by. Develop the project by referencing contemporary versions of Elizabethan hairstyles - do this by looking through newspapers, magazines and websites. Gather visual evidence that references Elizabethan hair and begin to consider how you may adapt it to a contemporary style.


There are quite a few things that went into elizabethan hair like jewels, pearls, gems, ribbons and feathers. Below I have listed other accessories that Elizabethan woman also wore in their hair.


Caul - its a snood or a hairnet that you can add attachments to it.














French Hood - quite like a headband.

Attifet - made out of lace. It's similar to the french hood but it has a heart shaped drop.

Pillbox Hat - small hat on back of the head, it's highly decorated.














Coif - poorer woman wore this as its quite plain and simple.















Images from: http://trystancraft.com/costume/2011/07/15/elizabethan-hairstyles-1560-1600/
http://www.lynnmcmasters.com/cord.html
https://www.etsy.com/listing/159948389/renaissance-headpiece-tudor-headpiece
http://www.fynehats.com/blackattifets.htm
http://www.verymerryseamstress.com/hats.htm\http://www.thistlebees.com/images2/hats-basic/bas_hat_coif_adj_side.jpg